Note: Thank you for taking action! The click-and-send letter for this alert is outdated and has been deactivated. In the coming weeks CAIR will issue an updated alert to take action for Congress to end indefinite detention and shut down the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/13/2013) -- CAIR is calling on all Americans who value their civil liberties, oppose indefinite military detention and want to shut down the prison at Guantanamo Bay to contact their Representatives. Today and tomorrow the House will consider and vote on 172 critical amendments to H.R. 1960, the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

While this annual defense authorization act provides valuable funding for the armed forces, in the next 48 hours Congress will consider a series of amendments that will either enhance or weaken your own rights against indefinite military detention and determine the future of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.

Action requested:

CAIR has provided a "click and send" letter addressed to your representatives in Congress that support and oppose a number of these 172 amendments that are currently being voted for on the House floor. Act now by signing the letter to your state’s representatives.

Amendments supported by CAIR include:

1) Reps. Adam Smith (D–WA), Chris Gibson (R–NY) Amendment #73* Amends Section 1021 of the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act to eliminate indefinite military detention of any person detained under 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) authority in the United States, territories or possessions by providing immediate transfer to trial and proceedings by a court established under Article III of the Constitution or by an appropriate state court. Strikes section 1022 of the same Act (which provided for mandatory military custody of covered parties). *Note: This Smith & Gibson Amendment explicitly bans indefinite detention and military commissions from the United States, and repeals section 1022 of the NDAA of FY12 which requires the military to put some civilian suspects into military detention.

Amendments opposed by CAIR include:

1) Rep. Jackie Walorski (R–IN) Amendment #23* Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from using any funds authorized to the department for the transfer or release of Guantanamo detainees to Yemen. *Note: This Walorski amendment would prevent the transfer of prisoners already cleared for release to Yemen. In May, President Obama had lifted his ban on the transfer of detainees from the Guantanamo Bay to Yemen. This amendment is counterproductive to closing the prison.

2) Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R–VA) Amendment #196** Requires the government, in habeas proceedings for United States citizens apprehended in the United States pursuant to the AUMF, to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the citizen is an unprivileged enemy combatant and there is not presumption that the government's evidence is accurate and authentic. **Note: This Goodlatte amendment compromises safeguards for American citizens against indefinite military detention by implying that the AUMF applies to Americans. While the AUMF does not currently apply to American citizens, the Goodlatte would imply the military has the authority to indefinitely detain American citizens suspected of terrorism without charge or trial.